Water cooler and dispenser



Oct. 18, 1938. w, c w E s 2,133,678

WATER COOLER AND DISPENSER Filed Sept. 7, 1955 5 J3 13 v 9 I l INVENTOR:

Wm 64 W536i; BY

A TTOREYS Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATER COOLER AND DISPENSER Application September 7, 1935, Serial No. 39,557

15 Claims.

This invention relates to water coolers and dispensers of the type adapted to be cooled by the evaporation of water or other fluid on the cooler surface.

The general object of my invention is to provide an improved water cooler and dispenser of the type stated, in which the circulation of air over the exterior surface of a water container is increased, and a maximum quantity of water is subjected to a cool surface in said container, thus materially increasing the cooling efficiency of the cooler.

Another object is to provide a water cooler and dispenser with an improved removable wastewater pan, and a tumbler drain pivotally mounted on said pan, so that it may be swung from under the water faucet to permit vessels larger than ordinary drinking tumblers, such as pitchers, to be held under said faucet and filled with water therefrom.

Another object is to provide a water cooler and dispenser with improved means for removably mounting its water container on its stand, whereby brackets, or a base or a plate on top of the stand to support the water container are eliminated. Another object is to provide a water cooler and dispenser with improved means for removably mounting the cover for the water container in position over said container.

A further object is to provide a water cooler and dispenser in which its various parts may be readily assembled or disassembled, whereby said parts may be more easily handled in transportation and in setting up, and for renovation and replacement of said parts when damaged.

Other objects and advantages will appear as this specification progresses.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in a certain embodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention, with one half of the cover for the water container shown in section, for more clearly illustrating certain features of the water container,

Figure 2 is a plan view of my water cooler and dispenser, as shown in Figure 1, with the water bottle removed, and showing the cover for the water container in horizontal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of my water cooler and dispenser taken on line 33 of Figure 2, with the water bottle removed and the 5 lower portion of the stand broken away, and,

Figure 4 is a front view of the waste water pan and tumbler drain, with the tumbler drain swung to the left from under the faucet of my water cooler and dispenser, so that a pitcher or other 10 large vessel may be placed under said faucet to receive water therefrom.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters in all the figures, l 15 designates a stand, 2 a water container mounted on top of said stand, 3 a waste water pan suspended from the top of said stand below said water container, 4 a tumbler drain pivotally connected to said waste water pan by a drain pipe H 5, cooling means 6 for drawing water from said waste water pan 2 upwardly over portions of the exterior surface of said water container 2 for cooling said container and the water therein, 1 a removable cover for covering said water con- 25 tainer and to provide for circulation of air over the exterior surface of said water container, and 8 a water bottle inverted and with its mouth introduced into and resting in the upper open end of said water container. 30

The stand 1 comprises a plurality of standards or legs 9, preferably three, spaced equidistantly apart, and rings [0 and l I, said legs being secured at their upper ends to the outside of the ring I0, and nearer their lower ends to the outside of the 35 ring I l, and said legs being bent outwardly and downwardly from the ring ll, at l2, to spread their lower ends l3 further apart to give the stand a firm supporting base.

The waste water pan 3 is suspended from the 0 upper stand ring 10 by links M. Each of said links comprises a single piece of wire bent in termediate its ends slightly V-shape, the bent portion of each link being also bent upwardly to form a hook I5 at the lower end of the link, and 45 the ends of the bent wire forming the link being bent downwardly to form a pair of spaced hooks l6 at the upper end of the link, the hooks l5 and the hooks I6 being bent from opposite sides of said link. The upper end hooks 16 of each link 50 I4 extend from the inside of the upper stand ring l0 and hook over the upper edge of said ring, at opposite sides of the upper end of one of the stand legs 9, while the lower end hook [5 of each link extends from the outside through an opening 55 H in the upper part of the side wall of the waste water pan 3, the upper end of said opening resting upon said hook l5, whereby said waste water pan is removably mounted on the stand I.

The drain pipe 5 is bent U-shape, and one end thereof extends through the bottom wall of the Waste water pan 3 and is pivotally mounted in said wall by a conventional water-tight swivel joint |8, while the other end of said pipe extends through the bottom of the tumbler drain 4 and supports said tumbler drain above the normal Water level in the waste water pan 3 in position forwardly of the water container 2 and cover I.

The lower portion IQ of the water container 2 is bulged and enlarged in diameter to provide a greater cooling surface for the water in the container, and which also makes it possible to connect a standard faucet 20 direct to the lower end of the container and without the use of a faucet extension, which faucet extends from the front side of the container 2 directly over the normal position of the tumbler drain 4. The water container 2 is formed at its base with a plurality of lugs 2|, corresponding in number to the number of the legs 9 of the stand I, which lugs extend radially outwardly from the bulge I9 of said container and rest upon the upper edge of the upper ring I!) of the stand, and the container is positioned so that said lugs also rest directly over the upper ends of the legs 9 respectively of said stand, between the upper hooks l6 of the links M respectively which support the waste water pan 3, thus supporting the container upon the strongest points of the upper end of the stand I, as particularly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing. The container 2 is formed with an annular external shoulder 22 a short distance below its upper end and with an annular groove 23 in its outer side a slight distance below said shoulder for the purpose hereinafter more fully set forth.

The cooling means 6 comprises a plurality of fabric strips or wicks 24 which extend upwardly from within the waste water pan 3 and outwardly over the bottom of the water container and upwardly around the bulge l9 and upwardly over the container to the upper portion thereof, said wicks being gathered and held together under the bottom of said container at the center thereof within an elastic band 25, and the upper ends of said wicks extending under an elastic band 26 surrounding the upper portion of the container within the groove 23, while said wicks are further held against the container between the bulge I9 and the portion of the container extending upwardly from said bulge, by elastic bands 21, each of which extends over said wicks at the upper portion of said bulge and over a pair of lugs 2| and under the container, whereby said wicks are removably held in position on the container in spaced relation from the under side of the container to their upper ends.

The cover I for the water container 2 is formed with a notch 28 in the front thereof extending upwardly from the lower edge thereof through which notch extends the faucet 20. Said cover is provided with an opening 29 in its upper end through which extends the upper end of the water container 2, and the upper wall of said cover is bent downwardly so as to form a depending annular flange 30 forming the wall of said opening 29, the lower edge of said flange resting upon the container shoulder 2| for removably supporting the cover I in position over the con-.

tainer 2. The cover 1 is formed with a plurality of outwardly offset vertical grooves 3|, to receive the container lugs 2| respectively. The cover I is further provided with a plurality of vertical slots 32 and a plurality of vertical slots 33, the slots 32 being spaced around the upper portion of said cover and the slots 33 being spaced around the lower portion of said cover.

The operation, uses and advantages of my invention are as follows:

The cover I shields the water container 2 from the heat of the surrounding atmosphere and provides a downward draft of air over the exterior surface of the water container, the air entering the upper inlet slots 32 and passing downwardly through the air space 34, between the cover and water container, and out through the outlet slots 33. Water in the waste-water pan 3 wets the lower ends of the wicks 24 and travels up said wicks by capillary attraction which moistens the surface of the water container 2 under the wicks, leaving the surfaces 35 of the container between said wicks substantially dry. The downward draft of air over the container through the air space 34, which is increased by the dry surfaces 35 of the container between the wicks 24, evaporates the moisture of the wicks and lowers the temperature of the container, thus cooling the water in the container.

The bulge l9 at the base of the water container 2 in addition to the bottom of the container provides a greater surface area over which the wicks 24 extend and apply moisture, and said bulge exposes a greater cooling surface area to the water in said container than containers of conventional design, thus materially increasing the cooling efliciency of the cooler. The bulge l9 moreover enlarges the diameter of the base of the water container 2 and makes it possible to connect a standard faucet 20 directly to the container and thus eliminates the use of a faucet extension. The lugs formed on the container make the water container self-contained by dispensing with the use of a separate base or brackets or other means for supporting the container on the stand.

Gathering together of the lower portion of the wicks under the water container changes their direction from vertical to lateral, causing better capillary attraction through the wicks as well as keeping the wicks in close contact with the bottom of the container.

Normally, the tumbler drain 4 rests directly under the faucet to support a tumbler in position to be filled with water from the faucet 20 and to catch any surplus water or leakage from said faucet. The tumbler drain 4 may be swung from under the faucet to one side on its swivel joint l8, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and in full lines in Figure 4, so that a vessel larger than a tumbler, such as a pitcher, may be held under the faucet to be filled with water.

The cover I may be readily lifted off the water container 2 and stand I and the container may be readily lifted off the top of the stand I. The link hooks i5 may be readily withdrawn from the openings IT in the Waste-water pan and said pan and the tumbler drain 4 removed from the stand I.

My cooler and dispenser may be readily assembled by inserting the link hooks IS in the openings ll of the waste-water pan 3; placing the water container 2 on top of the stand I with its lugs 2| resting upon the ring I!) and directly over the upper ends of the legs 9 respectively of the stand I; and slipping the cover I over the Water container, with the cover grooves 3| receiving the container lugs 2|, the upper end of the water container 2 projecting through the opening 29 in the top of the cover and the lower edge of the cover flange 3!) resting upon the shoulder 22 on the upper end portion of the water container.

It will thus be noted that the various parts of my cooler and dispenser may be readily assembled and disassembled, whereby said parts may be more readily handled in transportation and setting up and for renovating and replacement of parts when damaged.

The use of a plurality of spaced wicks, instead of a single sleeve Wick completely surrounding the water container, makes it possible for the wicks to avoid the lugs 2| and faucet 20, thus saving material and the labor of slotting a wick to fit around said lugs and faucet.

I do not limit my invention to the exact construction herein disclosed because various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container formed with a plurality of lugs constructed and arranged to rest upon the upper end of said stand for supporting said container upon said stand, and means for cooling said container comprising a plurality of distinct wicks adjacent said container and positioned between successive lugs and means for moistening said wicks.

2. A water cooler comprising a stand including a plurality of legs and a ring to which the upper ends of said legs are secured, a water container formed with a plurality of lugs constructed and arranged to rest upon said ring over the upper ends of said legs respectively for supporting said container upon said stand, and' means for cooling said container comprising a plurality of distinct Wisks adjacent said container and positioned between successive lugs and means for moistening said wicks.

3. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container mounted upon said stand, a pan mounted on said stand below said container for holding water, and a plurality of distinct wicks extending from said pan and contacting the surface of said container.

4. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container mounted upon said stand, a pan mounted on said stand below said container for holding water, and a plurality of distinct wicks extending from said pan over the surface of said container, said wicks being gathered and held together under said container, and spaced apart on said container from under the same to their upper ends, and means for holding the upper ends of said wicks on said container.

5. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container mounted upon said stand, a pan mounted on said stand under said container for holding water, a plurality of distinct wicks extending upwardly from said pan over the surface of said container, said wicks being gathered together under said container, an elastic band surrounding and holding said gathered wicks together, said wicks being spaced apart on said container from under the same to their upper ends, and means for holding the upper ends of said wicks on said container.

6. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container mounted upon said stand, a pan mounted upon said stand below said container, a plurality of wicks extending from said pan over the surface of said container, said container being provided with an annular groove near its upper end, and an elastic band surrounding the upper end of said container and fitted in said groove over the upper ends of said wicks.

'7. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container formed with a bulge at its base and resting upon the upper end of said stand, a water pan mounted on said stand below said container, a plurality of wicks extending from said pan and contacting the surface of said container, and means for holding said wicks on said container.

8. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container formed with a bulge at its base and with a plurality of lugs outstanding from said bulge for resting upon the upper end of said stand, a water pan mounted on said stand below said container, a plurality of wicks extending from said water pan over the surface of said container including said bulge, said wicks being spaced apart and each of said lugs extending between two of said spaced wicks, and means for holding said wicks in position against said bulge.

9. A water coolercomprising a stand, a water container formed with a bulge at its base and with a plurality of lugs outstanding from said bulge for resting upon the upper end of said stand,

a water pan mounted on said stand below said container, a plurality of wicks extending from said water pan over the surface of said container including said bulge, said wicks being spaced apart and each of said lugs extending between two of said spaced wicks, and elastic bands for holding said wicks in position against said bulge, each of said bands extending over two of said lugs and over the upper portion of said bulge and under said container for holding said wicks against said bulge.

10. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container mounted on said stand, said water container being formed with an external annular shoulder near its upper end, and a cover fitted over said container, said cover being provided with an opening in the top thereof through which extends the upper end of said container, and said cover being formed with an inturned annular flange surrounding said opening, the lower edge of which flange rests upon said shoulder and supports said cover in position over said container.

11. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container formed with a plurality of outstanding lugs resting upon the upper end of said stand, said container being formed with an external annular shoulder near its upper end, and a cover fitted over said container, said cover having an opening in the top thereof and formed with an inturned annular flange which rests upon said shoulder with the upper end of said container projecting through said cover opening, and said cover being formed with grooves extending upiwardly from the lower edge thereof to receive said ugs.

12. A water cooler comprising a stand, a water container mounted on the upper end of said stand, a water pan mounted on said stand below said container, a plurality of wicks extending from said pan over the surface of said container in spaced relation, and a cover fitted over said container and providing an air circulating space between said container and the wall of said cover, said cover being provided with air inlets in its upper portion leading into said air circulating space.

13. A water cooler comprising a stand, including plurality of legs and a ring secured to the upper ends of said legs, a container formed with a plurality of lugs constructed and arranged to rest upon said ring over the upper ends of said legs respectively, a water pan provided with a plurality of openings in its wall, and links for suspending said pan on said stand below said container, each of said links being formed with a pair of spaced hooks on its upper end for engaging said ring at opposite sides respectively of one of said container lugs, and with a hook on its lower end for extending through and engaging the upper edge of one of said openings in said water pan.

14. A water cooler comprising a water container having an inlet at its upper end an an outlet at its lower end, a plurality of individual spaced wicks contacting the outer surface of said container and means for moistening said wicks.

WILLIAM C. WILLETS. 

